Markhams methode or epitome wherein is shewed his aprooued remedies for all diseases whatsoeuer incident to horses, oxen, kine, bulls, calues, sheep, lambs, goats, swine, dogs of all kind, conies, all sorts of poultrye, all water-foule, as geese, ducks, swans, and the like) pigeons, all singing birds, hawks of all kind; and other creatures seruice-able for the vse of man: deuided into twelue generall points or heads. By Gervase Markham. Gentleman.

A briefe Preface of the nature of the Horse.

A Horse, of all the vnreasonable creatures vpon the earth, is of the greatest vnderstanding, ha∣uing in them (as the Schole men affirme) a certaine naturall in∣stinct, not onely of the knowledge of their riders, and keepers, but also of their owne generation and descent, knowing their Sires, and Dams, in such wise that they will refuse (as Pliny saith) to couple, or ingender with them: they are also of all creatures, the aptest to learne any motion, and the readiest to o∣bey their teachers, hauing a greater loue to exercise then any other beast. They are of infinite great courage and valour, taking an exceding delight in the warres, and (as some Schole-men affirme) haue a certaine fore∣knowledge of battell, and will prepare them∣selues man-like for the same. They wil mourne for the losse, or deathes of their maisters, and are so apt to endure labor, that it is written of the horses of the Sama••rans, that they would gallop a hundred and fifty miles end-wayes, without rest or stay: they ate naturally of

long life, and by choice keeping, haue bene brought to summe vp fifty yeares; but for thirty yeares it is much ordinary. The Mares are lesse liued, as till twenty, or fiue and twen∣ty at the most. They are of all beasts the most beautifull of shape, they are fit for the saddle at foure yeares of age, for the warres at six, for the race at eight, and for hunting, or for extreame matches, at ten or eleuen: the fe∣males beare their Foales full eleuen months, and foale in the twelfth: the best time for their ingendring is in March at the increase of the Moone, or in the middle part thereof, and the Mare foaleth her foale standing: they are supposed to be so louing and kinde to their ge∣neration, that if a foale loose the damme, yet the other mares which are milche, will of their owne accord lend their teates, and feede or nurse vp the orphan foale. Horses are subiect to more diseases then any other beast, for they haue full as many as belongeth vnto a man; and yet notwithstanding, all those dis∣eases may be cured by twelue medicines one∣ly, as you shall finde by reading of the sequell which followeth.

How to cure all the infirmities in Horses, either inward, or outward, with twelue medicines onely, and all not worth twelue-pence.

The first poynt.

All these infirmities are cured by the first me∣dicine following.

• All Feuers in generall.
• The pestilence.
• A Horse taken.
• The falling euill.
• The palsey, or shaking euill.
• The night mare.
• Hyde-bound,
• All consumptions.
• The brest griefe.
• The anticor.
• All tyrednesse:
• The loathing of meat.
• Casting out of drinke.
• All surfeits.
• The hungry euill,
• Sicke liuer.
• Sicke gall.
• Sicke spleene.
• Sicke kidneys.
• The yellowes.
• The dropsie.
• Costiuenes in the bo∣dy.
• The Botts.
• All wormes.
• Pissing bloud.
• The mattering yard.
• Shedding of the seed.
• Falling of the yard.
• Eating of hens dung.
• The falling of the crest.

The first Medicine.

If the horse haue bene brought weake by sicknesse, and that you finde it proceedeth from some inward infection, or corruption of bloud, you shall giue him in the morning fast∣ing two spoonefull of the powder of Diapen∣te, well brewed and tost to and fro in a pinte of sweete wine, as Muskadine, or Malmsey, and then ride or walke him vp and downe in the Sunne an hower after: then set him vp ve∣ry warme in the stable, and let him fast an hower, and then giue him such prouender as he will eate, and his hay sprinkled with a little water: But if his sicknes proceed from any colde cause, as from ouer-riding, and too sodaine cooling, or from washing when he was hot▪ or such like, then you shall giue the same quantity of Diapente in Sacke, or other hot wine, in the same manner, as aforesaid: But if his sicknes be lesse contagious, or that wine is not ready to be had, then you shall giue the same quantity of the aforesaid pow∣der, either in a quart of strong Ale, or a quart of stronge Beere, obseruing all the instructi∣ons formerly declared. Now for this powder which is called Diapente, or (of some) Horse Methridate, because it is a generall Antidote

or preseruatiue against al poysonous infection, you shall make it in this manner. Take of Aristolochia rotunda, of Gentiana, of Mirrhe, of Bachilauri, and of Ebori, of each a like quantity, beat them all togither in a morter to a very fine powder, and then searse it till not any grossnes be left, and then keepe it ei∣ther in a close pot, or in a bladder, and vse it as before saide when you shall haue occasi∣on, and obserue to doe it diuers mornings to∣gither, if the sicknes be violent. Now for as much as this powder may many times be wan∣ting, or at least hard to come by on the so∣daine, therefore in case of such extreamity you shall take a good handfull of Cellodine, rootes and leaues and all, and hauing pickt and clen∣sed them, you shall take of Wormewood, and of Rue, of each halfe an handfull, boyle these in a pottle of stronge Ale or Beere, till a full halfe be consumed, then straine it, and presse the hearbes excedingly, and then dissolue in∣to the drinke almost halfe a pound of sweete butter, and an ounce and a halfe of the best treakle: and being no more but luke warme, giue it the horse to drinke in the morning fasting, and ride or walke him an hower after it, then set him vp warme, and let him fast an other hower, then giue him meate as afore∣said: and doe thus diuers mornings accor∣ding

to the greatnes of his sicknes. Now in this cure, you must by no meanes forget to let the horse bloud in the neck-veine, an hower or two before you giue him the first drinke, and let him bleede till you see the corrupt bloud change & begin to looke pure, to know which, you shall saue the first bloud, and the last bloud, in two saucers, and as they coole, they will easily shewe you the diffe∣rence. Now if your horse happen to fall so∣denly sicke vnder you, as you trauell, when there is no towne nor helpe neere you, then you shall presently light from his backe, and with a sharp poynted knife, or bodkin, or for want of both, with a stronge poynt tagge, you shall pricke him in the roofe of the mouth amongst the barres, somewhat neere to his vppermost teeth, and make him bleed well, walking him foreward, and suffering him to champe and eate his owne bloud which is ve∣ry wholesome, and almost a present cure: Now if the bloud stanch of it selfe (as com∣monly it will) then you shall presently pisse in his mouth, and so ryde him with all gentle∣nesse and ease home-ward, and being set vp warme, wash his mouth and nostrills with vi∣neger, and the next morning let him bloud in the necke-veine, and giue him either of the drenches before prescribed, and no doubt

but you may hold on your iourney without danger. Now if in the pricking of the horse in the mouth, you either strike your knife too deepe, or else cut the veine in sunder, where∣by you cannot stanch the bloud (as it many times hapneth) in this case you shall put some big roūd peece of wood into the horses mouth (to keepe him from byting) and then take a little of the fine downe of a Hares skinne, or a Conies skinne, or (for want of them) the fine linte of any wollen cloth, and hold it hard to the wound and it will stanch it, neither will it be lickt away with the horses tongue.

All these infirmities are cured by the second Medicine following.

• All head-ach.
• All frenzie.
• The lethargie.
• The staggers.
• The posse.
• All coldes.
• All coughes, or wet or dry.
• All shortnes of breath.
• Broken winde.
• Rotten lungs.
• The Glangers.
• Mourning of the chyne.
• Laxe, or loosenes.
• The bloudy fluxe.

The second Medicine.

For any of these diseases of the head, or

lunges, or other parts by them offended, you shall in any wise first let the horse bloud in the necke-veine, and let him bleed exceeding well, that is to say, till you see the bloud change, and that corruption come to pure∣nesse, then stanch the veine, and take of Assae∣fetida as much as a hassell nut, and dissolue it in a saucer full of strong wine vineger, and then take fine flaxe hurds and dip them therein, and then stop the same hard into the horses eares, and with a needle and a thred stich the tippes of the horses eares together, to keepe the medicine in from shaking forth▪ then take of the white cankerous mosse, which growes vpon an old oake pale, or other oake wood, a good handfull or more, and boyle it in a pottle of new milke till one halfe be consu∣med then strayne it, and presse the mosse exce∣dingly, and being luke warme giue it the horse to drinke fasting in the morning, and ride or walke him an hower after it gently, then set him vp warme, and hauing stood an hower, then offer him such meat as he will most willingly eate, and in any wise sprinckle his hay with water, and thus doe diuers mor∣nings together, according to the greatnes of his sicknes: but if you shall perceiue that he casteth foule and filthy matter at his nostrils, then you shall euery morning as soone as you

haue giuen the drench, take of Auripigmen∣tum two drammes of Tussilaginis made into powder as much, then with Turpentine worke them to a stiffe past, and make little round cakes thereof, the compasse of a groat, but much thicker, and dry them a little; then take a chafing dish and coales, and laying one or two of these cakes thereon, couer them with a tunnell, such as you tunne wine or beere into bottles with, that the smoake may ascend through the same: then hauing made the horses head fast, put the smoak to his nost∣rils, and perfume him well with the same, and though at the first he be somwhat coy to take the smoake, yet hauing once felt the smell thereof, he will take such delight therein, that he will of his owne accord thrust his nose to the same: assone as you haue perfumed your horse, you shall ride him forth till he begin to sweat, and then bring him home and set him vp warme, and hauing so stood an hower or more, then giue him meate as before sayd, but by no meanes let him drinke any cold water, either in his sicknes or out of his sick∣nes, but when you may ride him after it, which if either weaknes, leasure, time or place doe hinder you to doe, then you shall heate a pottle of water on the fire scalding hot, & put it into a gallō or two of cold water, so that it

may onely take the coldnesse away▪ and then cast a handfull or two of ground malt or wheat branne into the same and so giue it the horse to drinke.

All these infirmities are cured by the third medicine following.

• Impostumes in the Eares.
• The Vines.
• Vlcers in the nose.
• All wens whatsoeuer.
• The Colt euill.
• Sweld stones.
• Incording or bursting.

The third Medicine.

For any of these outward infirmities or swellings, you shall take a penniworth of pep∣per beaten to fine pouder, a spoonefull of Swines grease, the iuyce of a handfull of Rue, two spoonfull of strong wine vinegar, and mixe them well altogether: then if the swelling be about the horses head, face, or throat, you shall take flaxe hurds and steepe them therein, and stop it hard into the horses eares and stich the tippes together with a needle and a thread, as in the second medi∣cine,

renewing it once in two dayes till the swelling goe away. But if it be in any other part of the body, then with this oyntment you shall anoynt the greeued place twice a day, till the infirmity consume away. Now for the swelling about the Cods or priuy members, it shall be good before you anoynt them with this oyntment, to bath them well with cold water, as either by trotting the horse into some deepe ponde, or els by taking a paile of cold water, and dipping a cloth into the same, to bath, clap, and wash the Cods therewith, then drying them with another cleane cloth, lay on the oyntment, which is a present cure.

All these infirmities are cured by the fourth medicine following.

• The pole euill.
• Swelling after blood∣letting.
• The withers hurt.
• All galld backs.
• All stittfasts.
• The nauell-gall.
• The Strangle.
• The botch in the groyne.
• All Fistulas.
• Biting with venomous beasts or wormes.

The fourth medicine.

For any of these filthy imposthumations, galls or swellings, you shall take the earth lome of a mudde wall which hath no lime in it, but onely earth, straw, or litter, and you shall boyle it in strong wine vinegar till it be∣come very thicke like a pultus, then being ve∣ry hot apply it to the sore, renewing it once in twelue or foure and twenty houres, and it will not only ripen it and breake it, but also draw it, search it, and heale it most perfectly: as experience wil manifest it.

All these infirmities are cured by the fift me∣dicine following.

• Mangines in the maine.
• Mangines in the tayle.
• The Mallander.
• The Sellander.
• The paines.
• The Scratches.
• All kyb'd heeles.
• The leprosie.
• The farcye.
• The generall scab.
• All lice or nittes or o∣ther vermine.

The fift Medicine.

First in any wise you shall let the horse blood in the necke-veine, and you shall suffer

him to bleed very well (because corruption of blood is the onely breeder of these infir∣mities) then hauing with knife, launcet, cur∣ry combe, hayre-cloth, or such like, opened the knots or pustules, and rubd away al skurfe or filthinesse, laying the sores open and raw and as it were ready to bleede, then you shall take of yellow A snicke beaten to fine pow∣der, and clarified hogges grease, of each a lit∣tle quantity, and beat them well together till they come to a perfect oyntment, then hauing tyed the horses head vp fast to the rack, in such wise that hee can neither licke nor bite himselfe, with this oyntment anoynt all the sores & other offended places very well ouer, holding some hot barre of iron or fire-shouell heated against the same, that the oyntment may the better and speedilier enter into the same: and being thus anoynted, let him stand the space of two or three houres at the least tyed as beforesaid: which done, take of the strongest vrine you can get, and with the same wash away all the oyntment wheresoeuer it was layd, and then vntye the horse and put him to his meate: and thus doe once a day, till the sores drye vp and beginne to shill away.

All these infirmities are cured by the sixt medicine following.

• All woundes in gene∣rall.
• All Synewes cut.
• All woundes with shot.
• Burning with lime.
• Mad dogge biting.
• Foundering.
• Frettizing.
• Surbaiting.
• All loose hoofes,
• Casting of the hoofe.
• Hoofe-bound.

The sixt Medicine.

Take of Turpentine, waxe, and hogges grease, of each a like quantity, first melt the yellow waxe and hogges grease vppon a soft fire, then take it off and dissolue the turpen∣tine into it, and stirre it very well together, then put it into a Gally pot and let it coole: & with this salue, tent, or plaister any wound or sore, & it wil heale it: also with the same anoint the cronets of your horses hoofes, and put∣ting wheat branne vnto it, being boyling hot, stop vp your horses feet therewith, in case ei∣ther of founder, frettize, surbat, or such like infirmity.

All these infirmities are cured by the seauenth medicine following.

• All old vlcers.
• The Shackle gall.
• The Canker,
• The Anbury.
• All bruises broken.
• All ouer-reaches.
• The crowne scab,
• The crownet hurt.
• Grauelling.
• Prick in the soale.
• A retrait.
• Cloying.
• The rotten frush.

All these infirmities are cured by the way onley contained in the seauenth medicine follow∣ing.

• The bloudy rifts.
• The bladders.
• The lampas.
• All mouth Cankers.
• All heat in the mouth.
• The tongue hurt.
• The paps.
• The tooth-ake,
• Shedding of hayre.
• The felter worme.

The seauenth Medicine.

Take of new milke three quarts, a good handfull of Plantaine, let it boyle till a full pint be consumed, then take three ounces of Allome, and one ounce & an halfe of white sugar Candy, both beeing made into a very fine pouder, and three spoonefull of strong

wine vineger, and put them into the milke, then let it boyle a little till it haue a hard curde, then straine it and saue the whay, wher∣with you shall first bath the sore, the whay be∣ing made warme: then with a cleane cloth dry the sore, and then apply to it this salue: take of turpentine, yellow-waxe and hogs-grease of each an ounce, and of verdigrease ground to fine pouder an ounce and a halfe, mixe all these very wel together on a soft fire, & then put it into a gally pot and let it coole: but in case where the bruise is not broken, yet likely to breake, there you shall only ap∣ply the fourth medicine onely, mentioned before.

All these infirmities are cured by the eighth medicine following.

• All conuulsions of si∣newes.
• All Crampes whatso∣euer.
• The necke-cricke.
• Shoulder splat.
• All sweld legges.
• Ouer-reach in the backe sinew.
• All windgalls.
• Wrench in the nether ioynt.
• All bruises vnbroke.
• All straines whatso∣euer.

The eight Medicine.

Take strong wine vineger & patch grease of each a like quantity and boye it on the fire then with wheate branne make it into a hot pultus and being so warme as the horse may well indure it, apply it twice a day to the grieued place, but in case the sorance bee where you cannot bind any pultus vnto it, then you shall onely take patch grease and be∣ing mol••en very hot with the same, bath the horse twise or thrice a day and giue him very moderate excercise before and after his dres∣sing, and it will not onely take away all paine and anguish but also remooue all swellings, gourdings, or any other eyesore whatsoeuer.

All these infirmities are cured by the ninth medicine following.

• All light galls.
• To skinne sores.
• To dry vp humors.

The ninth Medicine.

First bath the sore place with hot moulten Butter, then strow vppon it the pouder of Rossen, lastly take a spoonefull or two of very thicke Creame, and with the soote of a Chimney bring it to a very thicke past, then spread it also vpon the sore and it will heale drye and skinne it in a short space.

All these infirmities are cured by the tenth me∣dicine following.

• All watry eyes.
• All blood-shotten eies
• All dimnesse of sight.
• The pin and web in the eye.
• All Pearls or spots.
• All lunaticke eyes.
• All vlcers in the eyes.
• All cankers in the eyes.
• All Fistulas in the eies.
• The hawe in the eye.

The tenth Medicine.

Take true ground-Iuy, which of some is called alehoofe, and beat it well in a morter, and if it be very drye drop a little white rose-water into it, or a little of the water of the hearbe Eyebright, then straine it well into a cleane glasse, and with that iuyce wash, a∣noynt, or tent the sores in the eyes at least three or foure times a day: as for the hawes or hogs in a horses eyes, euery common Smith knowes in what sort to cut them away, and that easily.

All these infirmities are cured by the ele∣uenth medicine following.

• All splents.
• All Spauens.
• All Curbs.
• All ringbones.
• All quitterbones.
• All bony excrescions.

The eleuenth Medicine.

Take white Arsnicke ground to pouder and make a little slit vppon the head of the excrescion the length of a barley corne, and downe to the bone, then rayse vp the skinne with a fine cornet, and put in as much of the Arsnicke as wil lye vppon a three halfepence, and then bind vpon the sore a little dry flaxe hurds, which done tye vp the horses head to the racke, so as he may not bite the sore place, and let him so stand the space of two or three houres, for in that time the anguish will bee gone and the medicine will haue done wor∣king, then put the horse to his meat either in the house or abroad, and the excrescion will rotte & fall away of it selfe, which seene you may heale vp the sore, either with the sixt or the ninth medicine specified before.

All these infirmities are cured by the twelfth Medicine following.

• All broken bones,
• All bones out of ioynt.
• Swaying of the backe▪
• Weakenesse in the backe.
• Horse-hipped.
• Horse-stifled.

The twelfth Medicine.

The bones being placed in their true and proper places, according to the forme of the

member, you shall first bath the grieued place with warme patch greasse, then clap about it a bynding plaster of pitch, rosen, masticke, and sallet oyle, well mixt togither and mol∣ten on the fire, then fould the limbe about with sine flaxe hurds, and then splent it with broade, flat, strong and soft splents, and re∣moue not the dressing for the space of fifteene dayes, except you finde the roulers to slacken which is a very good signe and then you may strayten them againe, or if you finde the mem∣ber increase in swelling, and that the roulers grow as it were straiter and strayter then you may giue the members ease, for it is a signe it was rould too straight before, and thus you shal dresse it but twice in thirty dayes, or there abouts, in which time the bones will be knit, but if through the breatch or dislocation, you finde any grose substance to appeare about the grieued place, then you shall twice or thrice a day bath it with hot patch greasse, & that wil take away the eie sore in a short space.